One directional movement catch device



March 8, 1966 c. E. MURCOTT 3,239,255

ONE DIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT CATCH DEVICE Filed April 6, 1964 /7 26 /7 /4 F6 Z/ I /6 A 4 /5 I /8 L n A 25 I? T 27 INVENTOR. CHAR/.55 E. Mweco T7 fiTTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,239,255 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 3,239,255 ONE DIRECTIONAL MQVEMENT CATCH DEVIIECE (Iharles E. Murcott, Huntington, N.Y. (V alley Drive, Bay Crest, Long Island, NDY.) Filed Apr. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 357,586 4 Claims. (Cl. 287---58) This invention relates to catch devices for automatical- 1y checking movement of two telescoping tubular members in one direction of movement of the tubes with respect to each other while permitting free movement of the tubes in the opposed direction. More particularly, the invention deals with a catch device in the form of a generally wedge-shaped block mounted in an aperture of an inner tube with spring means arranged within said tube for urging the block into operative position at all times.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a structure of the character defined, wherein the block includes, at its ends, extended portions, one of which is bevelled for operative engagement with the inner surface of the tube in which the block is mounted in checking movement of the block into operative position.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged diagrammatic plan view showing part of a footrest frame having parallel side tubes operating in frame tubes of a chair and showing my improved devices mounted in connection with the tubular sides of said frame, with parts of the construction broken away.

FIG. 2 is a partial section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the catch device detached; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the spring employed in its normal untensioned position.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown, in part in FIG. 1 of the drawing, a footrest frame 1%, part of the front crosshead of the frame being shown at 11 and at 12 I have shown the tubular sides of the frame. In this connection, it will be apparent that the frame is generally U-shaped in form. Mounted on and extending between the tubular sides 12 is a foot supporting plate shown, in part, at 13. By way of illustration, the frame 1 1B can be similar to the footrest frame as shown and described in my Patent Number 3,123,397 issued March 3, 1964.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I have shown forward end portions of tubular chair frames 14! and, adjacent said forward ends, the upper surface of the frames 14 have apertures 15. In FIG. 2 of the drawing, I have shown a sectional view through one of the frames 14, as well as one of the sides 12 of the footrest frame 10. The sides 12 have elongated apertures 16 in upper surfaces thereof, in which operate catch devices 17, generally wedge-shaped in form. The inner portion of the device 17 has an extended straight end 18 and a tapered or bevelled end 19, the upper bevelled surface 2%) of which is arranged parallel to and lower than the upper bevelled surface 21 of the block 17 and these surfaces are joined by a slight undercut shoulder, as at 22. The shoulder 22 is equal in height to the thickness of the wall of the tube 12, as noted in FIG. 2. The lower surface of the block has substantially centrally thereof a spring engaging channel 23, in which an angularly offset end 24 of a flat spring 25 operates. The offset end 24 has a bearing engagement upon the side wall of the channel 23 adjacent the shoulder 22 in constantly maintaining the shoulder 22 in pivotal engagement with the adjacent wall of the aperture 16, as clearly indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The block,

adjacent the straight end 18, has a perpendicular stop wall 26 which is adapted to engage the wall 15' of the apertures 15 in checking outward movement of the frame It) with respect to the supports 14. The length of the offset end 24 is greater than that part of the stop wall 26 which projects above the tube 112 when the device is in the projected position shown in FIG. 2.

Considering FIG. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the end 27 of the spring bears against the wall of the tube 12 opposed to the aperture 16 and the spring is bowed when under tension, the spring 25, adjacent the end 24, engages the end 18 in aiding support of the device 17 in operative position, as clearly illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 2 of the drawing. This tension supports the ends 18 and 19 in engagement with the inner surface of the tube 12. Considering FIG. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the body portion of the block between the undercut 22 and the stop wall 26 is less in dimensions than the overall length of the aperture 16, so as to provide freedom of movement of the block or device 17 in the tube 12, particularly in moving 12 from the extended checked position, where the wall 26 strikes the end 15 of the apertures 15, to an inward movement or, in other words, to the right, as seen in FIG. 2. In this last named movement, the wall of the support 14 rides over the upper bevelled surface 21 of the catch device or block 17 and moves the same into the bore of the tube 14. In the last named movement, the bevelled surface 2th facilitates the pivotal or rocking movement of the device 17. It will, thus, be apparent that, in the outward movement, the minute that the catch device or block 17 registers with the aperture 15, the same is forced outwardly by the spring and definitely checks this outward movement, thus preventing accidental displacement of the frame it). It is here pointed out that these frames are quite often operated by the foot of the person occupying the chair and, in the outward movement, if there wasnt a positive check, the entire frame could be displaced from the chair.

My improved device provides a simple and economical means to accomplish the desired end result and, while I have illustrated one adaptation and use of my invention, it will be apparent that devices of the type and kind under consideration can be utilized in conjunction with telescoping tubes of any type and kind, wherein it is desirable to automatically check movement of one tube with respect to the other in one directional movement of the tubes with respect to each other. One important point in connection with the device in question lies in the fact that, in movement, for example, of 12 to the right in FIG. 2, the action is all automatic by simply urging the frame it in this particular direction.

It will be apparent that, from a consideration of FIG. 2 of the drawing, the block has freedom of movement on the end 24 of the spring and the undercut shoulder 22 facilitates rocking movement of the block on the end 24 when the block 17 is moved into inoperative position. However, at all times, the block 17 is contained within the environment of the aperture 16 to definitely key the block against displacement from the tube 12.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A catch device for checking relative movement of telescoping inner and outer tubes in one direction, the inner tube having a catch block mounted in an aperture therein and adapted to operatively engage an aperture in the outer tube, the central portion of said block being generally wedge-shaped in form and the upper tapered surface thereof being less in length than the aperture in said inner tube, said block having projecting ends disposed within said inner tube and engaging the wall of the inner tube in limiting outward radial movement of the block with respect to said inner tube, one end being straight and the other of said ends having a tapered upper surface, the central portion of the block having a tapered upper surface parallel to the first named tapered surface, said tapered surfaces being spaced and joined by a shoulder portion of a height corresponding to the thickness of the wall of the inner tube, said central portion of the block having a perpendicular stop Wall at the side thereof opposed to said shoulder portion, said stop wall operatively engaging the aperture in the outer tube in definitely checking movement of the inner tube in one direction in said outer tube, a flat and bowed spring mounted in the inner tube and having an angularly offset end freely and movably engaging the block to provide rocking movement of the block on said offset end, said spring normally urging the catch device outwardly into operative position, said offset end operating in a channel on the inner surface of the central portion of said block in providing said free and movable engagement, said first named tapered upper surface permitting rocking movement of the catch device in said inner tube, the length of the offset end of the spring being greater than that part of the stop Wall which projects beyond the aperture of the inner tube when the catch device is in operative position, and the bowed spring, adjacent said offset end, engaging said first named straight end of the block in aiding tensional support of the catch device in operative position.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer tube is free to move over the upper tapered surface of the central portion of the block in depressing the catch device against the action of the spring in telescoping the inner tube in said outer tube.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the spaced surfaces of said catch device, in combination with said greater length of the aperture in the inner tube, provides said free rocking movement of the catch device when depressed by said outer tube in telescoping said inner tube in the outer tube.

4. A catch device for checking relative movement of telescoping inner and outer tubes in one direction, the inner tube having a catch block mounted in an aperture therein and adapted to operatively engage an aperture in the outer tube, the central portion of said block being generally wedge-shaped in form and the upper tapered surface thereof being less in length than the aperture in said inner tube, said block having projecting ends disposed within said inner tube and engaging the wall of the inner tube in limiting outward radial movement of the block with respect to said inner tube, one end being straight and the other of said ends having a tapered upper surface, the central portion of the block having a tapered upper surface parallel to the first named tapered surface, said tapered surfaces being spaced and joined by a shoulder portion of a height corresponding to the thickness of the wall of the inner tube, said central portion of the block having a perpendicular stop wall at the side thereof opposed to said shoulder portion, said stop wall operatively engaging the aperture in the outer tube in definitely checking movement of the inner tube in one direction in said outer tube, a flat and bowed spring mounted in the inner tube and having an angularly offset end freely and movably engaging the block to provide rocking movement of the block on said offset end, said spring normally urging the catch device outwardly into operative position, said offset end operating in a channel on the inner surface of the central portion of said block in providing said free and movable engagement, said first named tapered upper surface permitting rocking movement of the catch device in said inner tube, the length of the offset end of the spring being greater than that part of the stop wall which projects beyond the aperture of the inner tube when the catch device is in operative position, and said offset end of the spring having pressure engagement with a wall of said channel adjacent said shoulder portion in maintaining said shoulder portion in engagement with an adjacent wall of the aperture in said inner tube in controlling the rocking movement of said catch device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 650,061 2/1900 Ely -40 793,576 6/1905 Follmer 135-40 2,187,372 1/1940 Capaldo. 2,229,473 1/ 1941 Redmer. 2,243,190 5/1941 Capaldo. 3,123,397 3/1964 Murcott 297 FOREIGN PATENTS 480,317 2/1949 Canada. 374,786 2/1907 France. 615,379 1/1927 France. 202,722 5/ 1907 Germany.

26,639 1905 Great Britain. 642,417 9/1950 Great Britain. 677,029 8/ 1952 Great Britain.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, EDWARD C. ALLEN,

Examiners.

C. A. NUNBERG, R. GIANGIORGI,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. A CATCH DEVICE FOR CHECKING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF TELESCOPING INNER AND OUTER TUBE IN ONE DIECTION, THE INNER TUBE HAVING A CATCH BLOCK MOUNTED IN AN APERTURE THEREIN AND ADAPTED TO OPERATIVELY ENGAGE AN APERTURE IN THE OUTER TUBE, THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID BLOCK BEING GENERALLY WEDGE-SHAPED IN FORM AND THE UPPER TAPERED SURFACE THEREOF BEING LESS IN LENGTH THAN THE APERTURE IN SAID INNER TUBE, SAID BLOCK HAVING PROJECTING ENDS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID INNER TUBE AND ENGAGINE THE WALL OF THE INNER TUBE IN LIMITING OUTWARD RADIAL MOVEMENT OF THE BLOCK WITH RESPECT TO SAID INNER TUBE, ONE END BEING STRAIGHT AND THE OTHER OF SAID ENDS HAVING A TAPERED UPPER SURFACE, THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE BLOCK HAVING A TAPERED UPPER SURFACE PARALLEL TO THE FIRST NAMED TAPERED FACE, SAID TAPERED SURFACES BEING SPACED AND JOINED BY A SHOULDER PORTION OF A HEIGHT CORRESPONDING TO THE THICKNESS OF THE WALL OF THE INNER TUBE, SAID CENTRAL PORTION OF THE BLOCK HAVING A PERPENDICULAR STOP WALL AT THE SIDE THEREOF OPPOSED TO SAID SHOULDER PORTION SAID TOP WALL OPERATIVELY ENGAGING THE APERTURE IN THE OUTER TUBE IN DEFINITELY CHECKING MOVEMENT OF THE INNER TUBE IN ONE DIRECTION IN SAID OUTER TUBE, A FLAT AND BOWED SPRING MOUNTED IN THE INNER TUBE AND HAVING AN ANGULARLY OFFSET END FREELY AND MOVABLY ENGAGING THE BLOCK TO PROVIDE ROCKING MOVEMENT OF THE BLOCK ON SAID OFFSET END, SAID SPRING NORMALLY URGING THE CATCH DEVICE OUTWARDLY INTO OPERATIVE POSITION, SAID OFFSET AND OPERATING IN A CHANNEL ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID BLOCK IN PROVIDING SAID FREE AND MOVABLE ENGAGEMENT, SAID FIRST NAMED TAPERED UPPER SURFACE PERMITTING ROCKING MOVEMENT OF THE CATCH DEVICE IN SAID INNER TUBE, THE LENGTH OF THE OFFSET END OF THE SPRING BEING GREATER THAN THAT PART OF THE STOP WALL WHICH PROJECTS BEYOND THE APERTURE OF THE INNER TUBE WHEN THE CATCH DEVICE IS IN OPERATIVE POSITION, AND THE BOWED SPRING, ADJACENT SAID OFFSET END, ENGAGING SAID FIRST NAMED STRAIGHT END OF THE BLOCK IN AIDING TENSIONAL SUPPORT OF THE CATCH DEVICE IN OPERATIVE POSITION. 